Bowling ball handling mechanism



July 23, 1963 s. A. GRUSS ETAL BOWLING BALL HANDLING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25. 1960 FIG.|

INVENTORS.

GEORGE A. GRUSS LOWELL E. MCKEAN BY DONALD L.ZEITERS ATTORNEY July 23, 1963 e. A. GRUSS ETAL 3,09

BOWLING BALL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

GEORGE A. GRUSS LOWELL E. McKEAN BY DONALD L.ZE|TERS 'ATT oRN EY July 23, 1963 e. A. GRUSS ETAL 3,093,653

BOWLING BALL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 25, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 P FIQ.4

I INVENTORS. GEORGE A. GRUSS LOWELL E. MG KEAN DONALD L.ZEIT ERS ATTOI'RN EY United States Patent 3,098,653 BOWLING BALL HANDLING MECHANISM George A. Gruss, Lowell E. McKean, and Donald L.

This invention relates to the game of bowling, and more particularly to improved mechanism for handling bowling balls in the pit of a bowling alley and for effecting their rapid return to the players end of the alley.

The apparatus constituting the invention is particularly adapted for use with automatic ball removing devices which can be provided to remove balls from the pit of an alley and return them to the player, because it eliminates the need for ball doors in such ball removing devices and therefore simplifies the mechanism needed for automatic removal of bowling balls from the pit.

Attempts have been made in the past to prevent the idling of balls and pins in the pit of a bowling alley and readily to separateiballs from pins for expediting the return of balls to the player. One of the problems is to protect the opening in the ball return mechanism from being jammed by pins, and this has necessitated the use of doors or like devices which are designed to permit exiting of only balls from the pit through the opening in the ball return mechanism. Another problem has been to expedite the removal of bowling balls from the alley pit and their delivery to a ball return mechanism.

The present invention solves the above noted problems because it provides means for effectively preventing pins from jamming or obstructing the opening of the ball return mechanism without the use of doors or the like. Also, the invention provides means for positively directing the balls from the bowling alley pit to a bowling ball return device.

In general, the bowling ball handling mechanism constituting the invention consists of the provision of an opening in the lower edge of the backstop or cushion in the pit of a bowling alley through which a ball may roll into the range of operation of a suitably supported ball guide. The ball guide may be a curved metal rod which directs the rolling ball through an opening in the kickback to a ball return device, for example, a bowling ball lift which engages balls removed from the pit and returns them to the player.

In a modified form of the invention, a swingably mounted, slowly moving afin'ction rotor, such as a tire wheel is operatively associated with the curved ball guide to resiliently engage a bowling ball and positively roll it up an inclined guide or ramp through the opening in the kickback for delivery to the ball return device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved mechanism for handling balls in the pit of a bowling alley, separating pins from balls and expediting the return of balls to the players.

-It is a further object of this invention to provide improved ball handling means for use in the pit of a bowling alley wherein novel guide means in the pit operate to separate pins from balls, and expedite the removal of balls from the pit for return, to the players end of an alley.

3,098,653 Patented July 23, 1963 It is a further object of the invention to provide improved means -for insuring the movement of a ball in the pitthrough an opening in the backstop or cushion.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means 01 directing a bowling ball exiting from an opening in the pit back-stop through another opening in a kick-back to a ball return device and to provide means to prevent pins from jamming or obstructing the opening to the ball return mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to prevent pins from jamming or obstructing the opening in a kick-back through which balls are delivered to a ball return device, by locating the opening above the plane of support of a ball in the pit and providing means for delivering the ball from the plane of support through the opening into the range of operation of a suitable ball return.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists of certain combinations and constructions which will be described fully hereinafter, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and illustrate two preferred embodiments of the invention and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away, a preferred embodiment of the ball handling mechanism of the present invention mounted in the pit of a bowling alley;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial rear perspective view of the ball handling mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation, with parts broken away, of a modified embodiment of the ball handling mechanism of the present invention, taken on the line 44 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the same.

The apparatus constituting the present invention is de signed primarily for use in bowling alley pits provided with endless belt ball and pin conveyors of the type disclosed in Zuercher Patent 2,785,898 fior Ball and Pin Handling Mechanism for Bowling Pin Spotting Machines, only so much thereof being shown and described herein as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention. It is to be noted, however, that the mechanism of the present invention is not to be limited to such pit conveyors as it may find use in other types of bowling alley pits.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the ball handling mechanism selected for the purposes of illustration is shown located in the pit P of a conventional bowling alley A, In the illustrated embodiment there is provided an endless conveyor, such as an endless belt 1 which is pit wide and extends substantially the full length of the pit P. The endless belt 1 thus has a bowling object receiving zone adjacent the header board or end of alley A and a discharge zone at the rear of the pit.

Conveyor belt [1 extends beneath backstop or cushion 2 which is mounted on brackets 3 suitably supported on the frame (not shown) of a bowling pin spotting machine of which only the housing 4 of the pin elevator Wheel is shown (FIG. 1) and with which the mechanism constituting the invention may be associated.

Conveyor belt 1 runs on rollers 5 and 6 whereby the upper lap 7 of the belt forms a bowling ball and pin receiving and supporting surface moving rearwardly in pit P, preferably continuously, to convey pins and balls to the rear thereof, the pins being carried underneath the cushion 2 which also prevents travel of the ball past it. Fixed .to one end of shaft 5 is a pulley 8 on which runs a belt 9 continuously driven from a suitable drive shaft of the pin spotting machine (not shown). The conveyor belt assembly is suitably supported in the floor of pit P between upright supporting plates 10 and 11 which are extensions of conventional kickbacks K.

Located beneath lap 7 and extending across pit P be tween plates 10 and 11 is a butler board 12 resiliently supported on plates 10 and .11 and serving the purpose of absorbing the shock or impact of balls and pins dropping onto or striking against conveyor 1 which is formed of suitable material such as rubber fabric or composition leather, or other suitable tough durable belt material. Bufiier board 1 2 may be formed of any suitable material such :as plastic, wood, or laminated materials having sufficient rigidity and capacity to withstand repeated impacts and to provide substantial resilient support beneath belt lap 7 to prolong the life of the latter.

Bufier board .12 may be so mounted between support plates 10 and 11 as to be inclined toward the left as well as the rear of pit P, which assists the conveyor in directing balls towards the ball handling mechanism, to be described, and pins to pin handling means or pin elevating wheel 4 at the rear of pit P. Pin handling means 4 may be of the same type and construction as that disclosed in Holloway et a1. Patent 2,767,983. Since it forms no specific part of the present invention, further description and showing is omitted. This construction along with the angular position of the backstop 2 also aids in obtaining a rolling movement of a ball along the face of the backstop, the latter also being operative to separate a ball from pins moving on conveyor lap 7 rearwardly in pit P beneath backstop 2.

A novel feature of the present invention is the manner in which a bowling ball 13 is directed to a ball return device of which only the rails 14 are shown. The ball return device may be similar in construction to that disclosed in Zuercher Patent 2,931,651 for Bowling Ball Elevating Apparatus. Since it does not form a specific part of the present invention, further showing and description herein are deemed unnecessary, except to state that the apparatus functions to raise and deliver bowling balls to the return track of a bowling alley.

As explained previously, the inclineof buffer board 12 toward the left as viewed in FIGS. v1 and 2, as well as to the rear of the pit P assists conveyor 1 in directing balls toward the ball handling mechanism through an arcuate opening 15 in cushion 2, which opening is located adjacent kickback extension plate 111 and is of a size to receive a ball therethrough as shown. The opening '15 is slightly larger than a ball which is to pass therethrough and may be angled diagonally to the left or to the right in order to facilitate exit therethrough of a ball rolling to the left along cushion 2.

A curved ball guide, of any suitable type, such as a curved metal rod 16 is resiliently mounted on the rear wall of cushion 2 and extends in an arcuate path from cushion opening 15 to a circular ball exit opening 17 in kickback extension plate 10, whereby a ball exiting from cushion opening 15 will be guided by said curved rod 16 under the influence of the incline of the bufier board and movement of conveyor 1 to and through opening 17 in kickback extension 10, thence delivered to rails 14 of the bowling ball elevating mechanism. Guide rod 16 in the illustrated embodiment is inclined downwardly towards the kickback opening 17 to better guide the ball to said opening. Bar 16 is positioned a distance above conveyor 1 suflicient to prevent movement of balls to wheel 4 and to allow pins to move therebeneath for elevation by wheel 4 to a point of discharge (not shown).

As shown for purposes of illustration, in FIGURES 1 and 3 rod 16 is formed integrally with a block 171 secured by mounting bolts 172 to the rear of cushion 2. Springs 173 encircling bolts 172 bearing against the rear face of cushion 2 and against nuts 1-74 maintain rod 16 supported resiliently on the rear of cushion 2.

In order to facilitate directing a bowling ball to the opening 15 in cushion 2, buffer board 12 mounts an elongated strip 18 extending transversely of the pit P from the cushion opening 15 to the right margin of the pit and positioned just in advance of the cushion 2, as viewed in FIGURES l and 2. A guide piece 19 is mounted on bufier board I12 in the corner between kickback extension 10 and cushion 2 and is provided with a concave edge portion 20 facing transversely of the pit. Guide piece 19 serves to eliminate idling balls and pins in the vicinity of the kickback extension 10. Guides 18 and 19 may be made of materials having properties the same as or similar to buffer board 12.

In order to control the movement of balls and pins through opening 15, and particularly in the area in front of opening 15, guide 18 is tapered at its end, as viewed in FIGURE '3. Preferably, the leading edge 181 of guide 18 extends laterally toward kickback 10 a distance greater than its, trailing edge.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a ball 13 rolling rearwardly on conveyor lap 7 tends to depress the portion of the lap in the vicinity of the cushion opening I15 between guide strip 18 and guide piece 19. This forms a slight pocket in which the ball is rolled to opening 15 in cushion 2, thereby moving the ball rapidly to the opening. In a similar manner (see FIG. 1), passage of a ball through opening 17 in kickback extension 10 may be speeded up by providing a generally triangular cutaout portion 22 in buffer board 12 in front of the p nin In order to protect opening 17 in kickback extension 10 from being jammed or obstructed by pins, a depending plate 21 of suitable material, such as wood or plastic is mounted onfront of cushion 2 between kickback extension 16 and cushion opening '15. Plate 21 is provided with an arcuate cut-out section to form an extension of the periphery of cushion opening 15. The bottom edge of plate 21 terminates with slight clearance above conveyor lap 7, thus effectively preventing pins vfrom obstructing opening 17 against entry of balls.

It should be noted that pins being conveyed through the cushion opening 15 pass beneath the curved guide rod 16 and are deposited in pin elevator wheel 4, above referred to. A downsweep ploughlike guide 24 suitably mounted on kickback extension 10 and rearwardly of opening 17 coacts with traveling conveyor to efficiently direct pins away from the area of opening -17 and into the pin elevator wheel 4.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that there is provided a plate 175 attached to rod 16 at an angle with the horizontal of less than We have found that when plate is inclined at 45 satisfactory results are obtained. Plate 175 efiectively deflects any pins moving through opening 15 downwardly onto conveyor lap 7. This construction prevents obstruction to the passage of balls through opening 15.

In the modified forms of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a ball exits through an arcuate opening 26 in a backstop or cushion '25 in a manner similar to that of the previous embodiment. The cushion assembly 25 is modified, however, to the extent that the space between the bottom of cushion 25 and conveyor lap 7 in the region of the kickback ball opening 27 is reduced to a distance less than the diameter of a pin by providing the cushion 25 with an integral downward extension 28, thereby effectively throttling the space against entrance of pins thcrethrough in the region of the ball handling mechanism to be described.

The modified ball handling mechanism includes a guide member 29 in the form of a curved metal rod mounted on the back of cushion 25 and arranged to guide bowling balls passing through cushion opening 26 to a booster or elevating mechanism for raising the ball in the pit to an opening 27 formed in kickback 10, the bottom 3-1 of which is positioned above the level of conveyor lap 7. 'By so positioning the opening 27, pins may not pass into or idle in the area of said opening and prevent ball exit.

As a bowling ball moves along curved guide 29 in back of cushion 25, it is engaged by a continuously moving booster device, such as a swingably mounted and slowly rotating tire wheel 32 or the like, which frictionally engages the top of the ball and gives it a resilient positive shove up an inclined guide or ramp 33 and through opening 27 for delivery to the track rails 14 of a ball return device (not shown). The frictional resilient rotor 32 is mounted on the extension of a shaft 34 in one end of an open frame bracket 35, the shaft 34 being coupled by means of a sprocket and chain drive 36 to a parallel shaft 37 passing through the other end of bracket 35. Shaft 37 is rotatably mounted in a bifurcated bracket 38 mounted on the kickback wall '10 such that the rotor supporting bracket 35 and its mounted rotor 32 are swingable in a vertical plane with the rotor 32 in substantial alignment with the opening 27, and operating in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of kickback 10. A comp-ression spring 39 working between a pair of lugs 40 and 4-1, respectively provided on brackets 35 and 38, bias bracket 35 and its rotor 32 downwardly whereby the rotor '32 may resiliently engage the top of a bowling ball as it is guided to the rotor by curved guide rod 29. An adjustable stop screw 42 threaded through a lug 4-5 in fixed bracket 38 is adapted to abut a portion of swingable bracket 35 to limit the lowermost position of rotor 32, so that whereas balls will be engaged by the rotor 32, pins will be swept thereunder. An extension of shaft 37 mounts a pulley 43 driven by a belt 44 from a suitable drive (not shown) to impart continuous slow rotation to the rotor 32.

Operatively associated with th e rotor 32 in lifting a ball to the opening 27 and thence to track rails 14 of a ball return device (not shown) is the inclined guide ramp 33 mounted on plate and disposed beneath opening 27 in substantial alignment therewith and with rotor 32. The top of the ramp 33 is at the level of bottom 3'1 of kickback opening 27.

As the ball delivered by the curved guide rod 29 is engaged by the resilient frictional surface of the rotor 32 (rotating clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4), and positively advanced up ramp 33 through the opening 27 to the ball return device (not shown), the swim-gable character of the rotor shaft 34 will accommodate the ball along its travel up the ramp. After the ball has been passed through opening 27, the rotor 32 will drop to its lower limit and be in position to engage and elevate another ball.

Curved guide rod 29 extends to the rear of opening 27 and a coacting guide 46 extends into the pit from the wall of kickback 10 at the forward edge of opening 27. The

two guides 29 and 46 straddle rotor 32 and a ball being rolled up ramp 33, and are also bent in a vertical plane to complement the rise of the ramp 33 and thereby prevent balls from slipping olf the ramp. In order to prevent binding of a ball between the guides 29 and 46 and to permit the guides to accommodate to varying distances etween contact points on the surfaces of balls being rolled between the guides, guide 29 is pivotally supported for horizontal movement in block 30 on cushion 25. A compression spring '47 working between cushion 25 and an extension 48 of guide 29 urges the other end portion of the latter into biasing engagement with the bowling ball. An adjustable stop screw 49 in cushion 25 and an associated bossStl on guide 29 cooperate to limit the biasing movement of the guide. A plowlike extension 51 on ramp 33 coact-s with the traveling conveyor 1 to sweep pins beneath the rotor 32 and thence to the pin elevating mechanism as in the previous embodiment.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, there is provided a pin obstruction device 52 which prevents exiting of pins frompit P through opening 17. This device comprises a lever having arms 54 and 56 and a fulcrum bearing 58 by means of which device 52 is pivotally mounted on stub shaft 60 suitably attached to kickback 10. Arm 54 carries a depending flange 102 which forms a gate to prevent pins from moving through opening 17 into the space between the kickbacks of two adjacent alleys when arm 54 is located in the position shown in FIGURE 3. In this way, pins are prevented from moving out through opening 17 and eliminate jams of pins and obstructions to the proper movement of balls from the pit of a bowling alley through opening 17 into the range of operation of a ball delivering device for return to the player.

Secured to arm 56 is a counterweight 64 which, after arm 54 and plate or flange 102 have been depressed by a ball moving through opening 17, biases them back to their normal rest position shown in FIGURE 3. A stop 66 limits the downward movement of arm 56. It should be noted that the top of arm 54 in its rest position (FIGURE 3), is below the center of the ball on conveyor lap 7. This arrangement insures that a ball to be moved or rolling through opening 17 always will depress arm 54 and plate 60 downwardly and rolls thereover onto rails 14 of the ball returning device (not shown).

The invention described above may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular embodiments selected to illustrate the invention are but several of many possible embodiments of the same. It is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structures shown and described.

What we claim is:

1. Ball handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley comprising an endless conveyor having a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting and conveying la-p forming a rearwardly moving pit floor for moving pins and balls to the rear of said pit, a transversely extending backstop located in said pit and mounted above said lap a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball but greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling pin, said backstop 'having a ball receiving opening located adjacent a pit boundary, said pit boundary having a ball opening located behind said backstop, means associated with said conveying lap and co-acting with said backstop to cause a ball on said conveying lap to roll toward said backstop opening, and guide means mounted in said pit above said lap of said conveyor a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball and rearwardly of said backstop and co-acting with said conveying lap to roll a ball from said backstop opening to said pit boundary opening, said guide means comprising a member having a generally horizontally disposed arcu-ate portion extending from the backstop opening to the pit boundary opening and adapted to roll a .ball therealong.

2. The mechanism defined in claim 1 in which the guide member is a curved rod mounted above the pit floor a distance less than the diameter of a ball but greater than the maximum diameter of a pin.

3. Ball handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley comprising a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting surfaces, a backstop in said pit and mounted above said surface a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball, said backstop having an opening located adjacent a pit boundary for permitting passage of a ball to the rear of said backstop, said pit boundary having an opening rearwardly of said backstop for permitting passage of a ball out of said pit, said pit boundary opening being located with its lowermost edge above the ball supporting surface, means mounted behind said backstop for guiding a ball from said backstop opening to said pit boundary opening, means for causing a ball to roll through said backstop opening and thence along said guide means to the vicinity of said pit boundary 7 opening, and means for elevating said ball to said pit boundary opening, said ball guide means is a curved member spaced above the ball supporting surface a distance greater than the maximum diameter of a pin but less than the diameter of a ball and extends from the backstop opening to the pit boundary opening.

4. The mechanism defined in claim 3 in which the ball elevating means includes a ramp extending from the ball supporting surface to the lower edge of the pit boundary opening, and a resilient continuously traveling member is disposed above said ramp and adapted to engage the top of a bowling ball and roll the latter up the ramp and through the pit boundary opening.

5. The mechanism defined in claim 4 in which the continuously traveling resilient member is a rotatable friction Wheel mounted for swinging movement in a substantially vertical plane of the ramp and being gravity biased against the top of a ball to be rolled up the ramp.

6. The mechanism defined in claim 4 in which the ball and pin supporting surface includes a generally horizontal endless conveyor belt having a ball and pin supporting lap for moving pins and balls to the rear of the pit, the rarnp being supported from the pit boundary with slight clearance above said conveying lap, and means are provided for clearing pins from the Vicinity of the ramp.

7. The mechanism defined in claim 6, in which the means {for clearing pins from the vicinity of the ramp includes a member mounted on the pit boundary in front of said ramp and having a surface extending diagonally rearwardly of the pit, said surface co-acting with the rearwardly moving conveying lap to sweep pins past the ramp.

8. Ball handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley comprising a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting surface, a backstop in said pit and mounted above said supporting surface a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball, said backstop having an opening for receiving a bowling ball therethrough, a boundary of said pit being provided with a ball receiving opening located behind said backstop, guide means mounted behind said backstop for guiding a ball from said backstop opening to said pit boundary opening, and means for causing a ball to roll through both of said openings, said ball guide means including a member having a generally horizontal curved portion extending from the backstop ball opening to the pit boundary ball opening and adapted to engage a ball therealong, and guide means mounted on said member for directing pins downwardly onto said surface thereby preventing obstruction to the passage of balls through said opening.

9. The mechanism defined in claim 8, wherein said guide means comprises a plate, and means mounting said plate on said member to extend over said surface at an angle less than 90 with the plane of said surface.

10. Ball handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley comprising a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting surface, a backstop in said pit and mounted above said supporting surface a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball, said backstop having an opening for allowing a bowling ball to pass therethrough, a boundary of said pit being provided with a ball receiving opening, a ball actuated gate normally blocking said opening, means for moving a ball into engagement with said gate whereby in response to the pressure of a ball on said gate said gate is moved by said ball out of blocking position whereby said ball can roll out of :said pit, and means for returning said gate to blocking position.

1 1. The mechanism defined in claim 10, wherein said gate comprises a lever having an arm supporting a blocking plate, and a second arm, pivotal supporting means located between said arms normally supporting said gate in a blocking position below the center of a hall, whereby said ball upon engaging said gate causes it to depress .and unblock said opening, and a counter-weight on said 8 second arm operative to bias said first-named arm and plate back to their blocking position.

12. Ball handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley comprising a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting surface, a backstop in said pit and mounted above said supporting surface a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball, said backstop having an opening for receiving a bowling ball therethrough, a boundary of said pit being provided with a ball receiving opening located behind said backstop, guide means mounted behind said backstop for guiding a ball from said backstop opening to said pit boundary opening, and means for causing :a ball to roll through both of said openings, said ball guide means including a member having a generally horizontal curved portion extending from the backstop ball opening to the pit boundary ball opening and adapted to engage a ball therealong, and said member comprising a curved rod mounted above the ball supporting surface a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball but greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling pin.

13. Ball handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley comprising a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting surface, a backstop in said pit and mounted above said supporting surface a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball, said backstop having an opening for receiving a bowling ball therethrough, a boundary of said pit being provided with a ball receiving opening located behind said bockstop, a guide means mounted behind said backstop for guiding a ball from said backstop opening to said pit boundary opening, and means for causing a ball to roll through both of said openings, said ball opening in the backstop being located alongside the pit boundary, and the backstop portion between said ball opening and said pit boundary having a depending extension terminating above the ball supporting surface a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling pin.

14. Ball handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley comprising a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting surface, a backstop in said pit and mounted above said supporting surface a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball, said backstop having an opening for receiving a bowling ball therethrough, a boundary of said pit being provided with a ball receiving opening located behind said backstop, ball guide means mounted above said supporting surface a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball behind said backstop for guiding a ball from said backstop opening to said pit boundary opening, and means for causing a ball to roll through both of said openings, said ball guide means including a member having a generally horizontal curved portion extending from the backstop ball opening to the pit boundary ball opening and adapted to engage a ball therealong.

15. Ball handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley comprising an endless conveyor having a substantially horizontal ball and pin supporting and conveying lap forming a rearwardly moving pit floor for moving pins and balls to the rear of said pit, a transversely extending backstop located in said pit and mounted above said lap a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball but greater than the maximum diameter of a bowling pin, said backstop having a ball receiving opening located adjacent a pit boundary, said pit boundary having a ball opening located behind said backstop, means associated with said conveying lap and co-acting with said backstop to cause a ball on said conveying lap to roll toward said backstop opening, and guide means mounted in said pit above said lap of said conveyor a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball and rearwardly of said backstop and co-acting with said conveying lap to roll a ball from said backstop opening to said pit boundary opening, said means for causing a ball to move toward the backstop opening comprising a fixed elongated member located beneath the conveying lap in front of the backstop and generally parallel thereto, member co-acting with said conveying lap under the and extending form the other pit boundary to the back- Weight of a ball to form the depressed path in said lap stop opening, whereby under the weight of a ball the lap directed to said backstop opening.

portion in front of said elongated member is depressed to define a path in said lap directed to said backstop open- 5 References Clted m the file of thls Patent ing, said means for causing a ball to move toward the UNITED STATES PATENTS backstop opening also including a second fixed member 2,531,167 Simpson Nov. 21, 1950 located beneath the conveying lap in the corner between 2,699,944 Keesling J an. 18, 1955 the backstop and the pit boundary in the vicinity of the 2,765,172 Zuercher et a1. Oct. 2, 1956 backstop opening, said second member and the elongated 10 2,964,318 Levendoski Dec. 13, 1960 

8. BALL HANDLING MECHANISM FOR USE IN THE PIT OF A BOWLING ALLEY COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY BALL AND PIN SUPPORTING SURFACE, A BACKSTOP IN SAID PIT AND MOUNTED ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF A BOWLING BALL, SAID BACKSTOP HAVING AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING A BOWLING BALL THERETHROUGH, A BOUNDARY OF SAID PIT BEING PROVIDED WITH A BALL RECEIVING OPENING LOCATED BEHIND SAID BACKSTOP, GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED BEHIND SAID BACKSTOP FOR GUIDING A BALL FROM SAID BACKSTOP OPENING TO SAID PIT BOUNDARY OPENING, AND 